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Political Corruption
by Jonty Bloom
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More than a little brown envelope; Jonty Bloom investigates corruption
Corruption is about far more than an envelope stuffed full of fivers in someone's back pocket. At its most extreme whole economies are destroyed by its pernicious influence.
Oil rich Nigeria is a case in point, it is virtually impossible to life a normal live there without encountering corruption. As a result the economy is gravely affected, crime is rife, politics is a sick joke and at the top, people aren't just skimming off enough to top up their inadequate salaries, they are literally stealing billions.
Western companies help developing countries to do this, Transparency International found that the most corrupt industries are arms, construction and oil.
That not only means that many western companies are helping to line peoples' pockets illegally but that often the wrong equipment is bought, and dams and roads are built in the wrong place for no better reason other than the politicians can get their kick backs. While the natural resources that could help a country drag itself out of poverty are being siphoned off into untraceable offshore bank accounts.
As a result the political process becomes weakened and discredited, people then ask; what is the point in voting if the new leadership just want to start ripping the country off again? The military can then be seen as the only decent and patriotic organisation left and thus coup d'etats are more acceptable.
Alternatively the population may turn to far right or far left political parties, who appear to offer easy and honest solutions to obvious problems that the established order has no interest in solving.
This also creates the situation where the ruling party will do almost anything to hold on to power.
Fixing elections is the easy option when losing means an end to millions in bribes for yourself, your family and your supporters, and possible prosecution for corruption which could lead to prison.
This isn't just a third world problem; although in places like the Congo, Argentina and Indonesia, to name just three kleptocracy can have devastating affects; it is happening in Europe and America as well.
Every time a politician is caught taking a bribe or paid for turning a blind eye or even accepts dubious political donations in exchange for influence a little bit of faith in democracy dies.
New laws are supposed to make it easy to prosecute companies here for paying bribes abroad, but most lawyers admit that they are so weak and vague that they won't work.
Businesses, if they admit corruption at all, justify it on the grounds that it wins contracts abroad and therefore secures jobs here.
That may sound logical enough but in fact those are the morals of a looter.
Useful Links:
- the website of the international anti-corruption organisation (http://www.transparency.org/).
NB. The 大象传媒 cannot be held responsible for the content of external websites.
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